Florentine l



(No Model.)

P. 1,. STONE 11 11. R. 111211111111111.` BOOT 0R SHOE TREE.`

110.441,115. Patented Nov. 18, 1890.-

Inh/EM-rmfs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLORENTINE L. STONE AND ALEXANDER R. VELLMAN, OF BROCKTON,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO OLIVER A. MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

BOOT OR SHOE TREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,115, dated November18, 18.90. i

Application tiled August 20, 1887. Serial No. 247,453. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that we, FLORENTINE L. STONE and ALEXANDER R. WELLMAN, ofBrockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot or Shoe Trees, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a foot-piece for a boot or shoe tree havingone or more longitudinal bottom sections or side pieces arranged to movelongitudinally forward and backward on the foot-piece, which in suchmovements move laterally or toward and from the longitudinal centralvertical plane of the foot-piece, so that the ball portion of thefootpiece will be respectively contracted and restored to its full widthfor the easy removal of the foot-piece from the boot or shoe after ithas been treed to prevent injury to the forni of the upper in suchremoval; and the invention consists of a novel mode of securing thelongitudinal section or side piece or sections or side pieces to thefoot-piece, all substantially as hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying plate of drawings, Figures 1 and 2 represent,respectively, side and plan views of a foot-piece for a boot or shoetree constructed according to this invention. Figs. 3 and 5 arerespectivelyplan and bottom views of the foot-piece with the bottomsections or side pieces moved forward. Fig. 4. is abottom view of Figs.l and 2, showing parts broken away and in section. Figs. 6 and 7 arevertical cross-sections on line 6 6 and 7 7, respectively, Fig. 2. Fig.Sis a view similar to Fig. 4, to be hereinafter referred to.

In the drawings, A represents a foot-piece for a boot or shoe treeadapted to besecured at B to the back of a boot-tree in any ot the usualways.

D and E are two longitudinal sections or side pieces of the bottom ofthe foot-piece, one on cach side, and each adapted to move forward andbackward in its respective seat F on the body portion of the foot-piece.

In the manufacture of this foot-piece it is in ade of the shape and formdesired in any the usual ways, and then it is sawed through e widthalong the line H from about the step portion toward the heel portion asfar as the cross-line K, wherev it is sawed off, the line H being acurved line and substantially corresponding to the general longitudinalcurvature of the bottom surface J of the footpiece. This bottom piece isthen sawed into three pieces, through its thickness along the lines L M,making the two sectional side pieces D E and a central or intermediatepiece N, the line L being parallel or substantially parallel with thecentral longitudinal vertical plane of the foot-piece, and the otherline IWI at an angle longitudinally to such plane. The central piece Nis then placed on the body portion from where it was taken and theresecured by nails, screws, glue, orl in any suitable manner. Secured tothe inner side g of each side piece by screws a. is a strip or plate b,of brass or of any suitable metal, having a longitudinal slot 7, throughwhich projects a screw P, which screws into the side of the centralpiece N, contiguous to its respective side piece, the strip b forming ashoulder for the head d of the screw. Each side piece is cut away, asath, along and back of the slot sufficient for the side piece as it ismoved forward and backward on the footpiece to freely slide over thehead of the screw P. As the side pieces move forward they move along therespective edges or shoulders L M of the central piece N, one E of thepieces moving toward the other or toward the central longitudinalvertical plane of the foot piece, because such side or shoulder M inclines toward such plane from its back end to its front end, whereby thefoot-piece will be contracted laterally or reduced in width at the ballportion, which is shown more partie ularly in Figs. 3, 5, and '7. l

In removing the foot-piece from the boot the body portion G slides alongthe sectional pieces, which moves the one E nearer to the other, asdescribed, and from the sides of the boot, consequently relieving thesides of the boot of more or less pressure at or about the ball portion,enabling the whole foot-piece to then be easily removed from the boot.

To more properly guide the sectional side pieces and keep them in place,a pin G, secured transversely in the central piece N, has its ends rproject therefrom, one each side, into a slot R in the sido g of eachsectional roo piece, the slot being of a size to allow free movement ofthe piece over the pin. A hole or opening S is made in each section orside piece opposite to the outer end t of the slot f for the insertionof the screw P in attaching the side piece to the body portion.

Each section or side piece can be made separately from the body portionand tbe body portion made to receive them in other ways than asdescribed, or the central piece N can Y be integral with the bodyportion, the invention consisting, in substance, of the manner ofsecuring the side pieces to the body portion and have them operate asdescribed. The slot f in the side of the sectional piece and itsshoulder can be made in any suitable manner, although as described issimple and practical; also, the screw P can be a headed pin or wire ormade of any suitable shape; also, only one section or side piece need beused, as shown, for instance in Fig. 8, the central piece being one withthe other side of the foot-piece and having the longitudinal angularline or shoulder L, by which the section is guided when moving forwardand backward, giving it the necessary' lateral movements. By securingthe movable sections to the central piece rather than to the bodyportion directly each section is cut away in its thicker portion for itsattachment; also, by having an opening S to the slot only sufflcient forthe insertion of the screw extend to the outside less of the material iscut away, retaining substantially the full strength of the piece, whichis preferable to having the slot f extend through the thickness itswhole length, with the screwhead at the outside, this latter tending toweaken the piece with the liability of its being easily broken in use.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim is l. A foot-piecefor a boot or shoe tree, consisting of a body portion having a recess onone side on the sole-surface, a guiding-pin and a headed pin or screwprojecting into said recess, and a bottom section and side piece adaptedto fit said recess and arrangedto be moved forward and backward thereon,having a slot toengage with the guiding-pin and a shouldered slot toengage with the headed pin or screw, for the purpose speciiied.

2. A foot-piece for a boot or shoe tree having a bottom central pieceprovided with guiding-pins and headed pins or screws, and bottomsections or side pieces on cach side of the central piece and adapted tobe moved forward and backward thereon, each having a slot to engage witha guiding-pin and a shouldered slot to engage with a headed pin orscrew, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

FLORENTINE L. STONE. ALEXANDER R. WELLMAN. Titnessesz ELMER FULLERTON,C. D. FULLERTON.

